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,, --.-:-----MORE TITHE SALES…

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MORE TITHE SALES IN CARDIGANSHIRE. TWO DAY'S ROUGH WORK. On Thursday and Friday of last week, two other batches cf sales to recover tithes claimed by Church I i authorities occurred in the parishes of Llunilwch- aiaru and Llanbadarn Trefeglwys which lie off the coast of Cardigan Biy between New Qnay an 1 Llan- rhystyd. In each case tithes have been long in arrear, and each case a portion of them has become ir- recoverable through lapse of time. Iu the parish of Llanliwehaiitrn in which New Quay is situated, the Rev David Griffiths is the rector, and the tithes, it is said, amount to about £ 280. In many places iu Wales it must he confessed that the obnoxious character of the clergy has added zest to the objection to pay tithe-. At Llaclhvchaiarn, however, it is to know, the people had nothing to say against the Rector. No;" they said, he has in no way rendered himself obnoxious. We have nothing against him. We ",r< fighting for principle." And a sturdy fight the inhabitants made of it. In the face of a force of police such as had not hitherto b-en seen in Cardiganshire, they carried on the campaign with much persistency, and something like thirteen hours were occupied in collecting tithes from eleven farmers. The officers had to walk about fif-een miles through roads which would make a splendid Slough of Dis- pond only there were no stepping stone iike there were in the G'¡rs Anobaith of Bunyaa's creation. They had to climb ftnees, avoid hlicked-up roads, wade tone" è:4 of water, break down b irred gates, raid were all the time accompanied by a crowd of people who continuously carried ou a sort of guerilla warfare with ▼erbal missiles, accompanied by the more telling missiles of mud and atones and anything else that came handy. It is estimated that the crowd, which began about 200 in number, eventually numbered over 1,000 when the tithe-collecting cavalcade reached the vicinity of New Quay. The agitation against the payment of tithe in the parish began about three years ago, when a request was forwarded to the Rector for a reduction of 5a. in the pound. To this somewhat large order no answer was given. Applications were sent out from time to tim", and on'the-?e occasions the tithepayera made no response. The consequence is that the tithe for the year 1586 is irrecoverable through lapse of time. "But," said an officer en Thursday to a man who had paid some- thing like MOO in tithe in not a very lengthy lifetime, What do yon gain by all this ? It is pay iu the end aft er all." ".Not quite," replied the tithepiyer or, rather, the non -titbepayer, I've gained f20 over this business, for now they cau't recover one year's tithe from me, and if by sticking out I can be the means with other* of getting tithes paid to some purpose by which I and my children will benefit, instead of to the present purpose from which, as far as I can see. I get no benefit at all. I shall be a great gainer." The dis- traints on Tnursday were made to recover two vear's tithes due, it was said, up to October last. The authorities appear to have been possessed of information which led them to anticipate serious opposition if they went into the parish with an insuffi- cient force and, if physique counts fm.:anything ,in a free tight, as undoubtedly it does. the inhabitants woulhave stood a very good chance, for the district (from some ethnological cause or other which would make a most interesting enquiry), is noted for its stalwart men. Perhaps the Cyinro of the gwaed coch cvfan stamp would resent the suggestion of an almixture of Irish or Flemish blood. The women. too, who. as a rule, wear short petticoats, black hOS8 and wooden shoes of neat manufacture, are altogether different in complexion, stature and bui!d to the womf n of North Wales, and seem to be almost as in- difft-rei.t to a little brush with the enemy as the men. It was also thought that sailors home at New Quay would' put on the war paint for the day, and then slip off to sea before any process of law could reach them. In these circumstances it was deemed advisable to muster a force of some sixty officers. There were sixteen ii.en and one sergeant from the Aberystwyth division of the Cardiganshire Constabulary, in,, eight men and a sergeant from the Llandyssul division under the command of Mr Superintendent Williams. Tnese were reinforced by twenty-one men from the Llaaelly dn ision of the Carmarthenshire force, under the com- mand of Captain Scott and fifteen men under the command of an inspector from the Glarnor^-inshire I force. The general body of men were under the com- mand of Major Bassett Lewis, chief constable, and Mr Supt. Lloyd, depnty chief constable, who, at the close of the two day's work were very highly spoken of by the Carmarthen and Glamorgan men for the excellent way in which they had handed the force under their command. The Glamorgan men were headed by a conple of sergeants—one of them from Merthyr—-as big as Sergeant Evans of Aberystwyth. In fact, no men are admitted into the Glamorgan force who arc under five-feet nine. They were altogether a very powerful body of men, and throughout the campaign they showerl that they were not over gentle in dealing with anyone who showed the slightest disposition to tread on the tail of their coats." "No," they said, "we don't stand any nonsense we don't stand it at the Works." The Carmarthen contiooent, also, was com- posed of a score of very powerful men, bat they seemed more disposed to temper their strength with mercy. Indeed, one of the Carmarthen men, in the middle of a charge which occurred at the close of the day, picked up an old man from the ground where he had fallen when the crowd stampeded. The Glamorganshire men were placed at the head of the force the Car- marthen men came next. with the home team in the rear. Some excention to this arrangement was taken by Mr Morgan Evans, of Oakford, as he probably thought on more than one occasion that the Glamorgan men would, not be alt ogether adverse to a very serious row, and no doubt his opinion was shared by others. Mr Morgan Evans thought that he Cardies should be placed in tae van but it was replied that it would be hardly fair to them, for the people would, it was said, take advantage of it, knowing that the men could net retaliate without making their posit-'ons in the county unpleasant. The division was accompanied by two officers in private clothes. The cost of the police arrangements will, it is estimated, amount to close upon £ 100. The Glamorgan and Carmarthen contingents came up to Liandyssul on the previous night. They were met at the Station by a crowd of over 200 people and as they marched to their quarters they were peheil with stones and mortar. Four of the Glamorgan men turned upon the crowd with their staves and some heads were cracked. Oue man was seriously injured and a second man, well-known as a Churchman and Conserva- tive, ou coming out of his house to ascettaiu what was the cause of the row, received a I- E,,Iap for his empioyer, as someone observed, who is a hit of a Radical. The Aberystwyth division lefc that town long before daybreak. On reaching Aberayron they were joined hy Mr Stevens and his men, the tithe collector. who again patronized Mr Wemyss' four-in- haun. and a start was made about ten o'clock for the scene of aetioo, driving through Ffosyffin and Llanarth, iu tne neighbourhood of which are thousands of acres of land wtiicM if cultivated would crrry a large population. Passing the Rev. Mr Prythereh's house, the rev. gentle- man came to the door and said something wnich did not sound iike a benediction. At Synod the Aberyst- wyth contingent was augmented by the southerners, and an imnosing cavalcade of about, a dozen convey- ances moved off in the direction of New Qi;ay. Up tone present time there had been but few signs cf a crowd. The procession, however, had not gone far down the road, before many men on horseback came forward to meet the officers, alltI some of the horseman struck the horses in the front conveyance which carried Major Bassett Lewis violently about the head and bodv. A large crowd also came forward armed ail sorts of instruments capable of producing discordant sounds, and headed by an ominous-looking black ilvg on which was painted ill Wilite, "The death- kneii oi U<e Tithe Church." Another fb of green and white, the newly-adopted Welsh national colours, varied the out Welsh motto to read. IVech gwlad a person." O:j¡r mut"MS ran: "The tithe dawn. A tree conntry aad a glad country;" and The direct way to force loyal Wales into anarchy." An elaborate banner bore the words "The Church of England Army in loyal, Nonconformist, and poor little Wales agents, bom baihtis and Government forces, (directed :)y the "Ie! gy and toe Ecclesiastical Commissioners. 0h Salisbury On; Gladstone. Oil Dillwyn. God Save ti;k! z Some «»t those mottoes were tiste- (i by Mr E. Jones, architect, Nottingham, a native ot the district. 1 he crowd was accompanied by a onou- ot small girls singing the following lines :— p frlvw-Ms sran ryvrun, yn rhyw le. rhyw bryrl, F..u i.idd mawr Lianllvvchaiarn yn ddiaron 0 hj'à I stUddu y di-swm a'i dc-uln inewn f-.c-d-i A' "i". r dydtl o.'af r>i wclir eu gwedd Ar fJuiwrnod eu han^Iadd mi sredaf bydd llu Or hir oNeirmdtitt a,'u tcwenvvi ij; yn d, 1 a. Au '<">venwistr yn i;<!u <: .ivfetid fat-h both O rhyfesM fata bofh, rhaid taki y cteyu-ni A 'O'tlu v dreih. The fplace visited was Brownhdl, the residence of Davies. a candidate for the County Council and leader among the L;bertiq of the distr ct. Os j bnrsday, he acted as a sort of master of tie? cere- monies. -jr-'iviag at his place, the eroxd *$.pied ;he etngy a cle-gyniau and began to attack it unmercifully. Captain Davies owed 8.s.. 1»S3 coiitc, for tithes, and for thi_. I I rick of hay had been seized by desire of rhe oven r. —re are yon goh»>r to d-» ?" j^ktd Mr: J- no!- >'<cxQg to p-;y," rep'ied Captain D:>e. i '■ noil.1 Bat, auiled M/ S-.evens, "I ar?. iog *o seU. I s'rtti) value the ric! soil KJ End t ik •.?. ■ ■■ t) t, '.x:z",o;<'T_ "00. the way was found to be Etopped by tarred wires, This having been broken down by one of the police, Mr Piggott, who accompanied Mr Stevens, valued the rick at £ 3. Captain Davies protested against its being sold under JE5, and remarked that if it was offered for sale someone was prepared to bid, whereupon Mr Stevens knocked the rick down to Mr Jones. Nantpele, for los. Mr Stevens, with Mr Supt. Lloyd, went into the house to settle tip and when this had been finished they found that they had been made prisoners, someone having locked all the doors of the house. Meanwhile the crowd outside sang, Poor Mary Ann," an air known iu Wales as Ar hyd y nos," which Punell says should be translated by Ah heed your nose." The offi .era, however, were not kept prisoners "Ail through the night," but were liberated on showing a tendency to jump through one of the windows and then made off for Bryoscdyn over rough roads and through wild country. We want." said someone in the crowd to Mr Stevens, We want to show you where we live." At Bryusodyn, owned by Mrs Mary Owen aud tenanted by her son, effects haa been seized to recover £1 9s. 3d. Here the tenant would not pay unless 3s., the levy fee, was allowed as at Llanrhystvd. Tnis A-as refused, and the Glamorgan men led Mr Stevens and his valuer into the stockyard in the midst of much pushmg and scuffling. Ultimately Mr Jones, Nantpele, bought the effects for £ 1 14s. A move was then made towards New Quay to Ptnralltwen, the residence of Mrs Elizabeth Jones, a widow seventy-five years of age, from whom £ 1 2s. 2d. was claimed. When the old lady appeared she re- ceived an ovation, Mr Davies, Horeb, Liandyssul, lead- ing her forth with the remark that she was a specimen of the women of Wales. In reply to Mr Stevens, she said she was never going to pay tithe again except by compulsion, and this elicited a second cheer. Outside the house was a motto B,,izxibtiliffs rich, and the clergy poor. 0 tempora 0 mores (Oh the times oh the manners Again Mr Jones, Nantpele, bought the hay and the costs, which amounted to 6s. 6d., were paid in copper. A short run up a lane which was also a watercourse, and Llairillwyd, the residence of Mr David Jones, was reached, where I Is. lid. was claimed, with 5s. 6d. costs. This amount having been settled, Mr Stevens took off his hat to th" gcod wife, wishing her a. Merry Christmas, and continued, his journey towards New Quay, and after surmounting tarred gates and various other obstacles came upon the top of a hill oveilookmg the sea, whence the crowd went over hedges and ditches to Penralltgoch, a farm belonging to Mr David J eD kin Davies, Aberystwyth, and occupied by Mr John Joues. The road was blocked up in one or two places, and when this occurred the officers climbed the fences and made their v.-ay through the fields. At one fence a sailor pushed the Chief Constable down. A Glamorgan Constable cam to assist, and when Major Lewis again got to the top of the fence he went down the other bide wirh such a rush that he accidently fell on his assailant who was knociied down. In his fall a valuable ineerchaum pipe fell out of his month, and when he picked himself up the pipe could not be found. Perhaps in the fall it was trodden into the ground or probably it is now gracing the month of someone down at the Works. Just before arriving at Penralltgoch, a hedge of tall thorns had been recently cut, and the thorml-qnite accidentally of course—had been left en the side of the lane. When therefore the young sparks of the crowd, who had mads a short cut over hedges and ditches, arrived at this particular spot, the happy thought struck them that it would be fun to fill the road up with thorns, and in that way make the way of the officers a thorny oue. But no sooner did the 's officers espy the obstruction than they wheeled to the right and down a field on the other side of the hedge. Tile crowd hooted and protested, but the officers went on. Then the tenant came up and attempted to remon- strate, but the Glamorgan men threw him about among them almost as easily as if he had been a foot- ball, and then left him on one side and marched straight into the farmyard and drew up in line. The tenant hurried up and lodged a complaint against the police for having struck him when he was asking them o keep the road. Mr Stevens replied that the teua.nt was attempting to break the ranks and Mr Lloyd added that where the roads were blocked, Mr Stevens was prepared to take the consequences of going over fences. Accounts having been squared at Penrallt coch, a cut was made for Trefaeh, owned by Mr Thomas Morris, and occupied by his son, Mr John Morris. The roads being flooded the officers again took to the fields. Arrived at the farm ga.te, there was a crush, and the men of Glamorgan were not over gentle in the way they brushed the people on one side and in the farmyard, too, there was a tremendous noise accompanied by tear- f'd pushing and crushing -ot a little horseplay. Mr Stevens was struck by a young man. He retaliated and was backed up by his Clerk. A general rush en- sued and excitement ran high. Men of Glamorgan ortly shouted the Chief Constable, Forward These swung along, clearing all before them, and then counter marched and enclosed Mr Stevens and his men between them and the other portion of the force. Failing to come to terms with the tenant in front cf the house, Mr Stevens and his men began to push their way to the farmyard. There were loud cries of Stone them," but no stones were thrown. Eventually they succeeded with the aid of the police in getting into the farmyard, and there the amount claimed, £ S 14s. Id.. with about 10. coots, were paid. Between Trefaeh and Penfoel, the residence of Capt. Watkin Jones, the next place to be visited, the way was made through a road which in some places was over a foot deep in mud and water, passing Biaen- paut, Biancynhir, and on to Penfoel through Cross Inn. There a stack of hay was sold to recover i:3 10s. 10d. tithes, and 7s. 3d. costs. Coming back to Cross Inn a halt was called, and the little tavern on the roadside was besieged for refreshments, it being now afternoon and many of the officers having had nothing to eat sii.ice five in the morning. IViiile the officers were discussing the refreshments the farmers outside were discussing the situation. Among those present were man from Newcastle Enilyn and other distant parishes, including Penbryn, where about 200 people are holding out against voluntary pay men!; of tithes. From what was said it seems that opposition to tithe is no new thing in tlis p-art of Cardiganshire. One farmer, Mr Srmucd Jones, of Cwmbarc. said his father's horses over half a century ago were taken from Brcniulle to New- castle Em!ya au-l sold to recover tfthes. Another man. some twelve years ago, who had his cows sold to help to maintain the parson used to bellow like a COiV whenever his reverence po-ssed that way. Forty-eight y. ars ago, also, Mr David Jones. Peucaeau, had articles of furniture and even a copy of Peter Williams's Bible sold hy the Church to recover her claims. Rebecca, however, in existence -it the time, and a letter from her to the purchaser of tha goods had the effect of getting all the articles returned to their former owner. Among the Penbryn men present was Mr Peter Beycon, Pantygenau, who owes three year's tithes. He had twice received ten day notices, but he had not paid and is not going to pay except under distraint and about 200 more of his fellow parishioners are in the same frame of mind. Then the discussion drifted towards etymology—why was tithe called" degwm and not degfed." I will tell you why," said one. "Iu the olden tIr/Jes when the ppople durst not actively protest against what they hdieveri to be unfair, when HIp. parson came along and counted the sheaves and came to deg (trn) he claimed that shesf as bis own whereupon the f irmer assented with a doubtful "urn," wherefore tithe, in Wales became" deg with an "urn." Thte discussion was cut short by the appearance of a well-known character who goes bv the name of lanto Tobacco who, having attracted attention with a bell after the manner of a town oner, announced the burial of the tithe on the first of Aoril next, in the churchyard of Oblivion. The first of r»xt April, it will be remembered, is the day on whichX!ounty Councils will come into operation throughout the land. There now remained three more farms at which tithe had to be collected before the day's work was concluded—Nantpde, "Cefngwydrlel (the back of the Wood), and Penrhiwpistyll. As Nantpale lay a mile out of the \v;v to the south-east, the main body of spectators proceeded to C^fngwyddel where they vere iii-t by a large number of people from New Quay. At Nantpele, tne -propcrty'oi Mr J. Jones, the substantial sum of £ 33 93. 2d., including costs, was claimed. Mr Stevens went to the r-tack which bad he-m seized and offered it for sale. No one, however, bid, up-on which, so it wis said, Mr Stevens valued the wrong stack, and left without the money. Cefngwyddel is owned and occupied by Mr David Grilfith". a man much respected in his neighbourhood. Mr Griffith Griffith- Aberayron and Lampeter, is his 9s. 6! without costs, was claimed avid a rick said to b-3 worth had been seized. By the time the officers arrived, the ftill, people. The ?j';nckya-<l lav to the right of the house and had to he approached by a declivity running between the outbuildings, and ft the end or the de- clivity was a. stone wall, with a to the left which barred the way to the ricky.vd. leading to the upper stories of the outhail-.ii-igs utilized by the women folk as a, sore ot frand fron) which to view proceedings when the officers descended into this t -i For had ee-ious mischief been Intended no place could scarcely have 1;.t'n better desigued. Here there was no difficulty in identifying the stack which had beer: seixed. for on the top of it was an effigy in the gs.rb of i' clerf-yrrvj?!. His general appearance, however. wz» inorj like that of n cheesc-rnonger. A large at1 funeral-.iookiug brewer V':11 also displayed carrying the words "S-'efed to «:te memory of Tithe who-' dieel December. ISSS, ten thousand ard one 1'lp, cl). A Fc': rfd t 11 (ill L": ;co 1 k'cksd i'r as "Cf the police marched ;oto the yarn and drew up in line back to bick and again the.e « as a great deal of z, crushing about Mr Stevens when i c was negociating with the sons of the farmer about the costs. A counter move of the Glannu rg-in men having cleared the way, Mr Griffith Griffiths came hp ou horseback and was told by Mr Stevens that che costs would be £ 1 6d. more than they would otherwise be if matters pro- ceeded to a sale. Being an auctioneer himself and probably not wishing to do a brother auctioneer, who had come all the way from London into the wilds of Wales, out of his fee, Mr Griffiths went in for the luxury r. a sata and the officers proceeded to the stackyard The gate leading thereto was found to be chained and covered with muck. The tops of the ricks were erowdi i with young men anel even young wome'i anel the edl shutting in the end of the road was aiso crowd-; J About a dozen people mounted a wooden ttructu e in o.'der to get it good view of the scene, but the structure collapsed and the men, coming oown jvith a run, narrowly escaped having their limbs !Token by the broken timbers. To matters WQr. a scnffin occurred between Mr Stevens and his rr a and some of the crowd, in which Mr Griffith's younger son was handled rather severely by tin. poli who in turn were pelted with mud. For close o. fi,Te minutes the officers were kept in this pn;r,i 1, The silo was then effected and the money paid Shoi tly alter the men Lit the effigy was thrown ove: the gate and kicked to pieces. A move was next made for Penrhiwpistyll, the residence of Mr Samuel Evans, one of the guareliaos for the parish of Lianllvvchaiarn, the last on the list of farmers to be visited. The crowd went on to the cross road near Maenygroes, passed a disused Wesleyao Chape!, And tiien on to Maenygroes itself, one of the early homes of Independency in the county, the in- tLrect creation of Dr Phillips's school at Neuaddlvpyd. Before reaching this a magnificent view opened out. At the foot of the hill. New Quay, with its terraces of houses, harbour and pier, lay snugly under a bold headland and then the view extended past Llauina Point, on t.) Aberayron, and thence round to Aberyst- wyth, Merioneth, and the Lleyn Peninsula in Carnar- vonshire. It had been ra.ining off and on throughout the day, but now towards evening the sky cleared, the sun came out iust before setting, aud lighted up the view with charming effect. During the day the officers had been accompanied by several men on horseback. At Cefngwyddel the cavalcade of farmers bad been increased to close upon a scor^, and in proceeding to Penrhiw they began to adopt the tactics pursued with success at the recent sales in the parish of Llanrhystyd. They went in front of the police force when they were going through narrow lanes with high hedges, and by making the horses walk at a snail's pace retarded the whole procession. Major Basaett Lewis remonstrated witn tnem in vain, ana ar, last gave mem an ultimatum to the effect that if they did not go on faster or give 1 him half the road, he would order the Glamorgan i officers to dismount every man and take him to the 1 rear, and put a member of the Cardiganshire force ou each horse. He gave them five minutes to consider what they would do. Three minutes passed. Four minutes and three-quarters and jusi on the tick of 1 five minutes the horses began to recover the use of < their legs, and all went merrily until Penrhiwpistyll was reached. Penrhiw, as its name signifies, stands on the top of a hill which overlooks New Quay. The house an(i i farmyard adjoin the road, and the rickyard is at the rear and is overlooked by a &teep field from which it is separated by a bank fence with a couple of wires < along the top. When the officers arrived at the entrance gate of the farm they not only found it chained but someone had juat recently been busy in giving it a coat of gas tar. The side entrance had; also been barricaded. The farmyard was full of people and groups were scattered about on the high grounds i adjoining tosee how the gas tar would work. Altogether there must have been more than 1,000 specoator6 present. The officers parlied at the entrance gata, but failed to obtain admittance. On the contrary, they received a volley of mud, and Mr Superintendent Lloycl was struck on the cheek with an old boot which he picked up and handed ovor to P.C. 30 to '••<» kept, as some one observed, as his booty in the tithe war. Presently the order was given to retreat up the road and then a shout of jubilation went forth from the croud which made the bills resound. But it was not for long. Instead of turning to the right in the direction of New Quay, the officers made a sudden wheel to the left through a gate, and in lesa time than it would take to say J-:tck Robinson," were on the ground commanding the farmyard where they were drawn up in time on the offside of the hedge which still divided them and the rick which had been distrained upon. The crowd, on seeing the stragetic movement of the police, had left the entrance gate and now filled the farmyard. It was thought that Mr Stevens intended valuing the rick from a distance. But in a few seconds, the Chief Constable climbed the fenco and dropped into the yard followed by Mr Lloyd, and it was a fine but exciting sight for the spectators on tha hill to see the whole body of officers carry the fonco and move forward at a rapid pace down the rickyard. clearing everything hefore them. The women screamed and ran for their lives, and the men made themselves scarce with amazing rapidily, some falling headlong down the slope. The officers, however, did not follow up the charge but, arriving at the ricks, drew up in line, hile Mr Stevens collected from the tenant £ 8 10, 81. and the costs. A correspondent writes: "The officers khockod down all they met. I got two severe blob's myself, and was sent head over heels because some women prevented my retreat without going over them. The women were ruthlessly knocked down too. I believe," he concludes, "that the foreign police were most brutal." The officers finally climbed back over the fence into the field, and subsequently marched into New Quay just as it was getting dark and the shops were being lighted up. The men were covered with mud up .L- LI. I L_ L_1_L co tneir Knees ana spiasnea iroin uooc I iieiiiiel. AiLer a brief halt they drove backto Aberayron, passing Wern, where Henry VII. slept when travelling from Pembroke to Bosworth. At each group of houses on the road they were hooted, and at Aberayron they had hot water thrown over them and were pelted with stones, rotten apples and mud. After the officers had departed, a meeting was held at Peurhiw under the presidency of the Rev W. Griffiths, Maenygroes, when Mr Jones, Nantpele. moved, and Mr Morgan Evans, Oakford. seconded a resolution protesting against the present system of tithes and expressing the opinion that tithe should bo devoted to national purposes. In the course of his remarks, Mr Jones, Nantpele, stated that since he had been living in the parish he had paid between foOO and £ 600 in tithes and had never heard a single sermon by the Vicar of the parish. The proposition was sup- ported by Captain Davies, Browuhill, Mr Davies, Llwyohenwas. tho Rev Mr Jones, Towyn, New Quay, Mr John Evans, solicitor, Aberystwyth, a.nd carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close, and, with it, the day's proceedings. On the following day (Friday) Mr Stevens, who had got through his work on Thursday with as much courtesy and good temper as wat possible in the dis- agreeable circumstances, started before daybreak for the parish of Llansantffraed, where he had E14 0s. 4d. to collect on behalf of the Eceleiiasticil Commissioners from Mr Evan Evans, of Tynycoed, a Calvinistic Methodist deacon, the only one who had held out to the end in the whole parish. Mr Evans had expected a visit on the occasion of the Llanrhystyd sales and had laid in a stock of eatables for his friends. On Friday morning he was taken a little unawares. The effect seized was sold and bought by a friendly purchaser, and Mr Stevens, who was accompanied by two con- stables only, having finished his work, returned to Aberystwyth and went home. At eight o'clock the police officers paraded in front of the Feathers at Aberayron and proceeded in an imposing procession of about a dozen vehicles to Llan- badarn Trefeglwys, a parish lying between Llangeitho and Llanrhystyd on tho one side, andLlanddewi Aberarth (where the first tithe sales occurred in Cardiganshire), and Llanrhystyd Mefynvdd (where they occurred a week or two ago) en the other. Here the tithes are claimed by the Rev Thomas Jones, vicar of L'anbadaru Trefeglwys and Oilceonin. and are considerably in arrear. At first, it appears that notices were sent out by Mr Thomv-s Lloyd, Lampeter, who acted for the claimant, for two years tithe up to last January. Mr John Evans, Aberystwyth, who acted for the tithe- payers, disputed the right to claim the first half-year's tithe, and it was abandoned, and he intends, it is believed, to dispute the claim to tithe rlll." from kst January to July, on the ground that a claimant, in taking legal proceedings to recover money cannot his claim. The officers on leaving Aberayron by the Aber- ystwyth road, proceeded ns far as Llanddevvi Aberarth a ltd, after mounting the hill, turned off to the right and made tor the high and barren lands which in this as in .1111ny other parishes in Wales, stretch for miles, and utterly condemn the present system of land tenure which keeps starving people off laud which others arc too well-to-do or too idle to cultivate. The ro.id was followed past the Church of Lhinbadaro, through the .1 picturesque hamlet oi Pennant, near Cross Inn, and on lor about six miles to the district of r-,etii which lies under the southern spur of Mynydd Bach. On the road a cottage w: pointed out which goes by the queer name of Asia Minor, and it was stated that the tenant, it: -order to av oul the disagreeable visits of the rats collector, lives in peace without doors or windows, Tiie first place to be visited was Penrhiw Shop, where Me John Oavie3, a deacon with the Galvirnstic Methodist.} 4c Rei'iama, objects having to provide the wherewithal for his own minister and then pay for other's people tniaisteri. The sum of £ 1 0s. Sd. was j U"¡t.o;7:¡..J.A;c.:¡"ø¡"LI. -< .1. claimed from him. Before reaching his house, a group of about 100 people were drawn up at the corner of a branch road, some of them carrying b.umers with appropriate mottoes on them. At Penrhiw itself were the words: Dearly beloved brethren, — Disestablish- ment and disendowment is our cry." When the police alighted from their cars they were formed up four deep and sent up the hill at quick march. A few men were standing on the roadside near a building and, though they were doing nothing at all but looking oil, some of them were pushed and violently assaulted by Glamorganshire policemen. Any unprejudiced onlooker would call it an act of unpro- voked aggression. A man in the crowd, when he saw his friends being pushed about, lifted his stick as if to strike the police, when he met by the second file and sent reeling against the building. A stoue was thrown at the police and smashed an officer's helmet. The officers wheeled and were brought ack into the yard of Peuthiw, where Mr John Evans, solicitor, pro- tested against the assault, to which the Chief Constable replied that the police would not touch any man if he were not in the way. We are not," he added, "going to be obstructed by any man." Subsequently when the female portion of the crowd began to make a din with tin pans, the Chief Constable said that the police officers, who were there doing their duty, had to hold their tongues however much provoked. The crowd, therefore, would have to keep quiet during the proceedings. If not, he would order the police to take the instruments away. This strong initial policy no doubt hud the effect of quietening the crowd and of enabling the officers to get through their work w¡;;n greater celerity than usual. At Penrhiw the police were met by Mr Ernest Lloyd, Lampeter, solicitor for the Vicar, and Mr Dav:d Oiven, his bailiff. Mr John Evans said that possibly they might be able to arrange term if afforded a iittie dis- cussion. This being accorded he contended that the claimant was not entitled to posses-ion (4s. 6d. a day for eight days) to charge 10s. each place for advertise- ment, seeing that oue advertisement at a total cost of about 5s. did for all the sales and that in respect of Mr Davies, Penrhiw, one distraint had been made for Penrhiw and Troedyrhiw, the latter being a distinct occupation. Mr Ernest Lloyd replied thai he was act- ing for his uncle (Mr Thoa. Lloyd) who was too unwell to attend, and that he had been- given no discretion in the matter of any allowances. Mr John Evans then said there would have to be a sale at each place in order to put him in a position to tax the coots The costs to E2 9s. in each case. He, howe ver, requested that the officers should not be taken to Ty- newydd, where £1 6&. 10d. was claimed from Mrs Ann Davies, because her child was ill, and to this Mr Lloyd at once consented. Sales having been effected at Penrhiw, Tynewydd, and Gvvarffynon (12s. tithe), all of which places were a little off the road, the officers retraced their steps tow-hvds Cross Inn to Trefaesissa, where jEu 13s. iOd. was claimed from the tenant. In passing along the road, it wa3 found to be blocked in aeveial places by boulder stones and small trees. At Trefats portions of a stack of hay had been s.-ized. and it was seen to bear the ni'itto. AKOther nail in the coffin of the alien Church." Here, as at other places, the hay was brought in by Mr Lloya, Adsolwen, for the tenaut, and a st ir!: was then made for Bryncernau, the residence of Mr M. Evans, which lies on the road leading to Lampeter, in the valley of the Arth, within a shore distance of Pont- ihiwsaeson Chapel.. Here £ 3 15s. tithe and the usual costs were realized, and next a visit was made to Gorsdalfa, in the occupation of Mr Evan Davies, deacon at Pontrhydsaeson. Mr Davies owed f5 IO. 6jd., and he literally made the officers come and fetch it, for he took them up to his house through lanes deep in mud for a mile back again in the (lirection of Bethannia. On regaining the road the crowd cut down the Valley of the Arth to Llvvynowen Mill, where Mrs Sarah Davies owed zCl 2s. 7d., while the officers had to go round to Cross Inn. Here, again, the effigy of a clergyman adorned the rick which had been seized, with a plate and a glass of beer at hand. and on a sheet of newspaper were the ominous words which Nebuchadnezzar saw on the wall-" Mene mene, tekel upharsen." While the sale was proceeding a man mounted the rick and amid the laughter of the crowd offered the effigy a drink. He then knocked its head off and threw his body to the crowd who played foot- ball with it until it was demolished. After the sale had been effected the police were drawn up in the lane with their faccs to the wall of the rickyard, which caused Mr Williams, Tynewydd, Pennant, that it. tosay reminded him of his school days, for when he then did anything wrong he was put to stand with his face to the wall. Here they were kept for about a quarter of an hour while the authorities settled up in the house the day's claims. About a score of gir s, some of whom were mounted on the top of the wall which the officers h."l to friff. wbiled awav the timp hv niclrinrr illl47 01 r-ö .food-looking officers and by giving reasons for selection or rejection. Some of the remarks, it must be confessed, were a very long way from being resportable, but were nevertheless received with shrieks of laughter by the women. This concluded the second day's sale, which like the first day's sale, had been carried on in weather and in some of the wildest parts of Wild Wales. The officers, some of whom looked half done up drove on to Pennant, where ti c Carmarthen and Glammorgau contingents left for Lampeter and the Aberystwyth division for Llnnon and Aberystwyth. A meeting was subsequently held when Mr W. J. Lloyd. Trefynor was voted to the chair. He seid was pleased that the protest against the payment, of tithe had become general in Wales. Though some people looked upon it as sport and said that the farmers were foolish to put themselves to expense, the laugh eventually, lie was assured would be on the other side. IN0 reform could oe obtained witnout sacrifice, I t w,,t s through sacrifice that Ireland in respect of the Church and of the land was far ahead of Wales, and even Eng- land—The Rev Jenkiu Rees, Cilcenin, was the next speaker. He said he did not think it consistent to preach the gospel of peace on'Suuday andjon Monday to send a host of bailiffs and police to compel farmers to pay tot- the sermon. In his opinion two poljc: officers would have been quite sufficient that day to preserve the peace. Under the circumstances tithe payors could do nothing better than coutinue the protest; and they o},1,1 rlit.r;nt for t.it.hp n n hnnonr for tbmr OiV"L" "t _4' 0" .'Ja "J were fighting for a good cause and would be sure to win in the end. The clergy were doing their best to retain tithe in their handa, and the present Government wanted were helping them, but believed that the matter would be settled by the next Liberal Government.—Mr Evan Evans, Tyncoed, then moved, That this meeting earnestly and firmly asserts that, there is no way of settling the tithe question except by disestablishment and disendow- ment cf the Church cf England in Wales and the devotion of tithe's to rational purposes." He observed that he did not believe in a state religion and considered it rai honour to be sold up that morning in the good 2 a u. He was exceedingly glad to see the fanners of Wales assorting their rights—Mr John Evans, Drefaesisaf, seconding'the proposition, said he had met with an accident and had been confined to his house for about a year. Friends from far and near—many he did not expect to see—visited him but he received no. "isit from the Vicar to whom he was expected to pay tithe. The Vicar had refused to allow a rednetiou to the extent of the amount he would have to pay a solicitor for collecting them.-The Rev T. Lewis, Bethania, said .that if the Church had the 'avv and legal forces on its fide, Nonconfor- mists had truth and righteousness on their side. In the and the latter were sure to win.-Mr J. Jones, Tirbauh, said he did not believe in using sticks and stones, but he believed in fighting for principle. If, he added, some people stood out against the payment of tithes in evrey parish in Wale?, the law which eon-pellel payment of tithes to the Church won!d soon be altered. For himself, he wa.s determined not to again pay tithe voluntarily till the Church was disestablished.—Mr Morgan Evans, Bryn- earne. said that Nonconformists bad now to support two churches and though they paid a great deal to the Established Church there was not much brightness or success in it after all. Nonconformists, too, were as if they were serving two masters, and were determined to get rid of one.—Mr David Jones, Bvvlchllan, said the clergymen claimed to be the successors of the apostles, but would the apostles do dirty work of that kind ? He was pleased that the farmers of Wales were wakiog up, and were now marching on fat toward* religious equality.—Mr John Evans, solicitor, ystwyth, also supported the proposition, and it was carried with loud cheers.

TITHE PROSECUTIONS AT ABEI-AYRON.

CILCENIN.

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